RCAF Fighter Recce Spitfires

SKU:AOD32009m

CA$22.69

CA$22.69

Unavailable

• decal options to model any one of eight (7 plus 1 bonus option) different aircraft including four FR.IXC conversions, two FR.XIVE conversions, and two factory-built FR.XIVE (RV canopy) aircraft. The set includes enough common markings and comprehensive airframe stencil data markings for one complete model.

•FR.IXC MJ351 as aircraft S, nicknamed Violet-Dorothy of 414 Squadron: Flown by F/L Ken Lawson during March of 1945 before her loss with a fellow 414 Squadron pilot at the controls. Later (from early January 1945) 2TAF markings scheme with Black spinner, overpainted fuselage band and type C1 upper wing roundels.

•FR.IXC MK374 as aircraft R of 414 Squadron: This aircraft was flown by Squadron commander S/L Gordon Wonnacott on New Years Day 1945 when he returned to find the airfield under attack by Luftwaffe fighter bombers. He claimed victories over some of them before landing. Given the significance of that combat (a rare multiple victory sortie for an FR.IXC) we’ve elected to offer the subject as a bonus item in this set. No photos have been found of the aircraft to date, so our graphic “reconstruction” was created based on both contemporary 414 Squadron FR.IXCs and other Mk.IXCs that were close in serial to MK374. The aircraft is depicted in the pre January 1945 scheme featuring type B upper wing roundels, partial Allied Expeditionary Air Force "invasion" stripes on the rear fuselage, and Sky spinner and fuselage band.

•FR.XIVE RM876 as aircraft H of 430 Squadron: Flown by F/L Warren Middleton during an 8 February 1945 action as described in Robert Bracken's classic Spitfire: The Canadians. This is a standard fuselage (high back) Mk.XIV with the FRU Fighter Recce conversion incorporated. Can be depicted in either the pre January 1945 markings (see MJ518 above) based on an included photo, or the toned down later markings. Finish options notes are provided.

•FR.XIVE RN114 of 430 Squadron but specially marked with the 39 Wing Officer Commanding (Flying)'s initials RC*W: As flown by W/C RCA "Bunt" Waddell from January through May 1945. Another standard fuselage Mk.XIVE. Markings options based on recent photo-interpretation has been added to the set for this aircraft.

• FR.XIVE MV348 as aircraft S, nicknamed Violet-Dorothy III of 414 Squadron: Flown by F/L Ken Lawson during May of 1945, this bubble-canopied low back FR.XIV features the later 2TAF markings scheme with Black spinner, overpainted fuselage band and type C1 upper wing roundels.

•FR.XIVE NH648 as aircraft P, nicknamed Lazy Lady IV of 414 Squadron: Flown by S/L James Prendergast after he became the 414 Squadron CO in mid April 1945 until put out of action by flak damage on 29 April. Another well weathered, nick-name endowed low-back FR.XIVe. Several reference photos are included in the set documentation

*High resolution b&w copy of Docs supplied in the package. Home-printable colour PDF version available via email after purchase. The richly detailed Docs file – the Aviaeology "magazine article in a decal bag" you may have heard about – is also available separately as a PDF e-publication that you can use to zoom in to high magnification on-screen, or print out in colour. Internet-connected registered owners of the decal set get the docs for free.

Additional material in this particular set's Docs includes scale drawings that may be used produce the fuselage camera installation fairings unique to the standard-fuselage FR conversions (i.e. not the bubble canopy FR.XIVEs) used by 39 Wing. Docs also include select reference photographs.